Chamelot Delvigne M1874
It is one 1873/74 or not - to be one 1873 - the barrel is not grooved /74 - bronzed black, one would need official markings of the official manufacturer MAS (St-Etienne) of lawful French!
Why isn't there to you not markings - to avoid the royalties, taxes and others - this weapon even seems not to be tested because it is about a model inspired of the 1873/1874 manufactured by an unspecified arms manufacturer with a “improvement” (Key of fast disassembling? or, if it is really a safety, probably intended for the German market which liked that).
It is obvious that Chamelot-Delvigne, manufactured by Pirlot Frères (see site) was used as a basis for this weapon, but also for the Italian model, 1872 Switzerland and quantity of civil weapons with or without alternatives, There is a French manufacturer “Gerest” of St-Etienne who manufactured this type of weapon with key of opening on the left, but it is not only - far from there!
HPH
